419 pilgrims fail to fly for visa problem

A batch of 419 Bangladeshi pilgrims failed to go to Saudi Arabia on Monday by the scheduled hajj flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines due to visa complexities. The flight, BG-3013, of the national flag carrier, was scheduled to take off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Saudi Arabia in the morning, an assistant hajj officer told UNB over phone. However, the flight could not depart due to glitches in the visa issuance e-system for the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, he said.  The hajj official also said the problem was resolved in the afternoon following a meeting among the Religious Affairs Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Saudi Embassy. “There’s no problem in the e-system now. Visas are being issued online. Those who failed to get visas will receive those,” he said.

 

--- Shahjahan